Rep. Steve King Absurdly Claims Snow Disproves Climate Change

February 19, 2010 11:59 am ET —
Matt Finkelstein

Global warming
deniers have been jumping
for joy after recent snowstorms in Washington,
DC and across the country. While ignoring actual science, conservative
lawmakers and talking heads are spouting the childish
argument that, if it snows in February, climate change can't possibly be
real.

Speaking at CPAC
earlier today, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) declared that "the Al Gores of the world
were wrong on the science, and today we know it." Mistaking weather for
climate, King went on to say, "It's tough to make an argument when the evidence
is all around us."

KING:
The liberals, the environmentalists, the
Al Gores of the world were wrong on the science, and today we know it. And I have an Al Gore shower at my place, and
I took my drill bit out with an 8-inch bit in it, and I drilled all the holes
out so I now I can take a shower in 3 minutes instead of 12. Sorry Al.
But I've got a scoop shovel for you if you want to come anywhere in the
50 states in America, for the first time
in the history of keeping records there's snowfall on the ground in all 50
states. It's tough to make an argument
when the evidence is all around us with a snowy white wonder in a crystal
cathedral.

Watch:

Climate experts
have already explained
why King's logic is spectacularly wrong.
Despite the heavy snowfalls, this remains one of the warmest
winters in history (last month was the warmest
January on record). And, while it's silly
to make any judgments from a handful of storms, the recent weather is consistent with scientific theory, which holds that global warming will cause
increased precipitation (because of more moisture in the air) and more extreme
storms.